$201k to boost farming

THE Agriculture Ministry has set aside $201,000 for assistance to farmers in Bua Province this year.

Speaking at the Lekutu district meeting last week, agricultural officer Laisiasa Tuiwainunu said the ministry also spent more than $100,000 in agricultural assistance to farmers last year.

Mr Tuiwainunu said this year's assistance program would involve the diversion of $38,000 for agricultural extension services.

"The ministry has also set aside another $111,000 for its rice revitalisation project within the district of Lekutu," he said.

"It has dreams of producing its own rice and saving its expenses of $20million that it spends annually on the importation of rice from overseas. Therefore, we are encouraging rice farmers to come forward and seek assistance if they need any."

Mr Tuiwainunu said farmers could always contact them through their office at the Lekutu Government Station

"We have also set our focus on other agricultural farming projects such as the coconut development project and the ministry is keen on assisting copra farmers.

"The ministry has set aside $14,000 for the cocoa revitalisation project within Lekutu district and we're thinking of bringing back a commodity that had died over the years."